Can-opener



Patented Jan. 3|, I899.

E. n. MIDDLEKAUFF.

CAN OPENER.

( Application filed Feb. 10,1898.)

(No Model.)

, m: NORRIS PETERS 00., PHOYO-LITHO., wAsnmaTou, n.c

UNITED STATES PATENT EicE.

ELLSIVORTH D. MIDDLEKAUFF, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO IVILLIAM D. BOWVEN, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,426, dated January 31, 1899.

Application filed February 10, 1898. erial No. 669,874. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.- rigidly attached at any point on the same by Be it known that I, ELLSWORTH D. MID- means of a thumb-screw 9, which is inserted 5o DLEKAUFF, a citizen of the United States, rein the top thereof. The lower end of the said I sidingin the cityand countyof San Francisco, frame 8 is bifurcated, such bifurcations l in the State of California, have invented cerhaving a cutting-wheel11 pivotally journaled tain new and useful Improvements in Canbetween the same. The bifurcations have Openers; and I do declare the following to be forwardly and rearwardly extending lugs 12 a full, clear, and exact description of the inon the bottom thereof for the purpose of envention, such as will enable others skilled in gaging with the top of the can being operated 10 the art to which it appertains to make and use upon, thereby rendering a steady movement the same, reference being had to the accomwhen in operation and preventing the cutpanying drawings, and to the figures of referting-wheel from sinking too deeply in the ence marked thereon, which form a part of can. The cutting-wheel ll hasahub 13, which this specification. is adapted to rest on the sides of the incision I 5 My invention relates to that class of canmade when the periphery of said wheel 11 openers which are universal in their adj usthas penetrated the tin. ment, easily and expeditiously operated so The mode of operating my improved can as to open different-sized cans, and which opener is as follows: The handle 2 is grasped may be cheaply constructed; and it consists by one hand and the point 3 is guided by the 20 in the peculiar construction, novel colnbinaother hand and thrust through the center of tion, and adaptation of parts hereinafter set one end of the can. The handle 2 is then forth, and particularly pointed out in the lowered until it assumes the position shown claim hereunto annexed, reference beinghad in Fig. 1, whereupon the frame 8 is moved to the accompanying drawings, in whichalong the lever 1 until the wheel 11 occupies 2 5 Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved a position near the edge of the can, Where it can-opener as applied to a can, shown in dotis desired to sever the top. The thumb-screw ted lines. Fig. 2 is a top view of the curved 9 is then impinged upon the lever 1, and the end, showing the position of the glass-cutter. handle and lever are given a gyratory move- Fig. 3 is asectionalview of the gyratinglever, ment which, by means of the wheel 11, cuts 30 showing aside elevation of the rolling cutter. a circular hole in the top of the can. The

Similar figures of reference indicate correcircular neck .4; allows the free circular mosponding parts in the several views. tion of the leverl. The lever 1 may be in- I employ a lever 1, which has a handle 2, verted and the glass-cutter 7 used in the orrigidly attached at right angles thereto, on dinary manner.

35 the top side of one end ofthe same. The re- Having thus described myinvention, what verse end of the said lever 1 is curved down- I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters wardly and has a point or brad 3 rigidly at- Patent, istached thereto and extending in a line par- The herein-described compound tool comallel with the lever 1. The point 3 is conprising the lever 1 formed in one piece and 40 nected to the end of the lever l by a neck 4, having the downwardly-curved portion at one of circular form in cross-section, for the purend, with the convex outer edge 5 and a lonpose as will be shown. The convex side 5 of gitudinal slot therein, and terminating in a the lever 1 has a slot 6 cut longitudinally brad 3 arranged parallel to the main portion therein, and a rotating glass-cutter 7 is pivof the lever and provided with a neck 4: of 45 otally journaled in the same. A cutter-frame circular form in cross-section disposed at ap- Shas an opening laterally therein correspondproximate right angles to said main portion ing in size and shape to the lever 1, and such of the lever, the glass-cutting wheel arranged frame 8 is inserted on such lever and may be in the slot in the convex edge 5 of the lever,

the cutter-frame adj ustably mounted on the lever and having the bifurcation in its lower end and also having the lugs 12 arranged at opposite sides of the bifurcation and extending in front and rear so as to serve as shoes, a set-screw for adjustably fixing the cutterframe on the lever, a rotary cutter arranged in the bifurcation of said frame, and a handle 2 connected to the lever at one end and disposed above the same, substantially as 10 v specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELLSWORTH D. llIIDDLEKAUFlr.

Witnesses:

JAMES T. SUMMERVILLE, MoLBRY HAYNES. 

